Mixed response to US call for tighter air checks

Airline passengers bound for the US faced a jumbled mix of new security measures across Europe today, but not all airports appeared to be following a request for extra screening of those from 14 named countries.

There were few visible changes on the ground at large hubs such as London, Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt which alone account for 20-30 daily trans-Atlantic flights each.

The US said from today anyone travelling from or through nations regarded as state sponsors of terrorism – as well as “other countries of interest” – will be required to go through enhanced screening.

The Transportation Security Administration said that would include full-body pat-downs, carry-on bag searches, full-body scanning and explosive detection technology.

The US State Department lists Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria as state sponsors of terrorism. The other countries whose passengers will face enhanced screening include Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia and Yemen.

The new measures followed the arrest of Nigerian man Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab who tried to set off a bomb on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day.

Germany announced increased security at all airports following the failed Christmas Day attack, but authorities today said no further measures have been taken since.

Switzerland was studying the new US security measures, but so far the old controls were still in place, said a spokesman for Swiss International Air Lines.

And a security official in Spain said US-bound passengers from countries on the new watch list were not being singled out for body frisks.

Elsewhere in the world, there has been a general increase in security since Christmas.

In Jordan, a key Western ally, security was beefed up at Amman’s main international airport since the Christmas Day bombing attempt. An official at Queen Alia International Airport said “enhanced techniques” were being applied, especially in screening passengers bound for the United States.

Pakistan’s national airline said it was intensifying security checks for US-bound passengers, even though there were no direct flights to the States from Pakistan. Screening was also stepped up for those flying to the US from other parts of Asia and the Middle East.

In South Korea, an official at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport said US-bound passengers now had to go through additional security before boarding.

The Australian Transport Ministry said all passengers flying to the US would continue to be patted down and have all their cabin luggage searched.

Baghdad’s International Airport already has extremely tight security, with passengers having their luggage sniffed by dogs and searches before entering the airport.